Cruel Fates Book 1: Once Upon a Demon’s Heart by KM Moronova

 

Cruel Fates Book 1

This is no fairytale—It’s yearning and guilt of two burdened hearts that will leave readers breathless.

Alira, a devoted demigod knight, has found herself trapped in the throes of a brutal curse. A time loop in which the demon kingdom’s Blood Knight kills her every time. She is haunted by the attack she led on the innocent village of Thornhall, and her guilt consumes her from the inside out. After the twentieth time loop, she has finally had enough. Something has to change, lest she die at the Blood Knight’s hand for the rest of time. A choice she hopes she won’t regret—one to end the war between demigods and demons. Alira is shocked when she realizes that she’s marrying the very knight who has slain her so many times.

A daughter of Venus and a duke of demons. Their love is both cursed and destined—a marriage to save the fragility of their kingdoms.

Kalel is as cruel as they come. A devourer who survives on the gilded blood of demigods. He wants to hate her as much as he did when Thornhall fell, but he finds himself warring with his heart over his emotions for her. Together, they unravel the truths of Faultore, that perhaps not everything is as it seems. The gods may be pulling more strings than they should.

It’s not a question of what love can conquer; it is a matter of what they are prepared to demolish in the path of it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239829563-once-upon-a-demon-s-heart

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Alira is stuck in a time loop. And it ends the same every single time. Her death by the hands of the Blood Knight. No matter what she does, he finds her and kills her in the end. Ands she is just exhausted. The last time it happens, she decides it’s time for a new tactic. To run. Staying in her kingdom of demigods and their war against demons is exhausting and every time she spills blood, it hurts her more and more. But as she leaves she comes across someone and the conversation she has with him reminds her there is in fact one things he has yet to try. There was a decree that peace could be made if there is a union between the demigods and the demons. Alira has kept her bloodline hidden but by revealing it, no one will deny her request that she be the one to marry a demon and end the war. She will make the sacrifice. She just never expects that when they accept, it will bet the Blood Knight to answer the call. Or that he was the stranger she had met that made her decision to go down this path. But she will endure. She will bring peace. Even if it means marrying Kalel. This is such a fascinating new fantasy world! Demigods and demons were such an interesting mix. And a time loop curse? Even more so. I really enjoyed this first book and getting to know Alira and Kalel and this world. And that ending? Super glad I have the next book ready for me to read because I definitely need to know what happens next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Toronto Thunder Book 4: Thunderstruck by Beth Bolden

 

Toronto Thunder Book 4

When Lane realizes he’s attracted to his straight stepbro, he’s absolutely thunderstruck . . .

It’s not the worst day of Lane’s life when his team, the Toronto Thunder, drafts his baby stepbro, Trevor, but it’s close.

No. The worst day was when his mom married Trevor’s dad. Trevor’s just too good, too naïve, too sheltered. Too hot.

Lane might claim he wants nothing to do with him, but that’s the worst delusion of all. He’s always wanted everything to do with Trevor. Even when they have zero in common. Even when Trevor’s always been on the straight and narrow. Literally.

Lane’s the total opposite. He’s walked—and danced and sashayed—to the beat of his own drum, forever. Mentoring Trevor now that they’re on the same team? Sounds like his idea of hell—and heaven, too. There’s a reason their teammates call them the demon twins.

But with the final few games of the season and the Thunders’ playoff run looming, Lane’s self-control is weaker than ever. Especially when Trevor confesses that he’s been thinking about it, too.

Suggesting Trevor experiment with their mutual attraction would be a terrible idea, but Lane’s had worse, and that’s never stopped him before.

And when it becomes way more than just sex? When Trevor becomes the first guy he wants to see in the mornings and the last thing before he goes to bed at night? When they’re so completely entangled together that he couldn’t get free, even if he wanted to?

That’s a special kind of thunder.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241985713-thunderstruck

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

At eighteen, Lane never would have imagined the guy he was crushing on would be the son of his mom’s current and very serious boyfriend. From the moment he saw how happy his mom was and that her boyfriend may be an actual good guy, he knew he could never act on his feelings for Trevor. Or tell him or anyone that there are feelings at all. So he spent the next six years refusing to call Trevor “brother” or being around much at home to avoid it, hoping his feelings would go away. But when Trevor is drafted to the Toronto Thunder with Lane, well, he can’t decide if this is the best or the worst thing to ever happen. Scratch that, learning that Trevor may be into guys and wanting to explore that may be what kills Lane. Especially when Lane volunteers himself. Trevor has never understood why Lane has been so distant with him. And moving in with him when was drafted didn’t seem like a great idea. But spending months slowly getting to know one another, helped bring them a bit closer. Though Trevor can still see Lane’s walls are very much still up. But when Trevor is realizing he may be into guys and says something to Lane, he can’t help but feel deep down that maybe Lane can help. And then Trevor’s eyes are open to Lane for the first time. Because he now is truly getting to see and know Lane and that may be the best thing that has ever happened. I loved these two! Oh man, poor Lane has been torturing himself for years trying to get over his feelings for Trevor and just never succeeding. It was so great he finally had a chance to do something about it and even more amazing for him to admit what has been going on with him for so long. He definitely deserved a nice happy ending. I loved how their relationship developed in this story. They slowly broke down one another’s walls and it showed that those gut feelings they had for one another since they met were proven right. Great story all around! And I can’t wait for the next book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Devon Falls Book 4: Found in the Falls by JE Birk

 

Devon Falls Book 4

After Dr. Milo Warner saves me from humiliation in a hotel hallway, I can’t stop thinking about him. When I get the chance to hide from my problems and open a community center with Milo in a small town called Devon Falls, I take that opportunity and run. But now things between the two of us are heating up fast. Milo protects me from runaway gondolas, takes care of me when I’m injured, shields me from my trauma, and sees power and strength in me that no one else ever has. We keep making jokes about the two of us being the perfect alpha/omega pair, but honestly? I’m not joking.

The problem is that it’s becoming more and more likely our parents will soon run against each other in a high-profile political primary race. Milo and I have both been burned by the public spotlight before, and we understand the dangerous territory we’re wading into. When we uncover a secret that’s been kept from our parents, one thing becomes clear: Milo and I will both need to take some big risks if we plan to fight for each other.

Found in the Falls comes with an older doctor who struggles to suppress his protective side, a younger social worker who just wants to make the world better, a sweet rescue dog they accidentally adopt together, and the Devon Falls found family they both desperately need. This is the fourth book in the Devon Falls series, but it can be read as a standalone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235733447-found-in-the-falls

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I love being back in Devon Falls! Another great story in this series. This time it is Milo and Noah’s story! Noah hasn’t had it easy. Losing his mom in the way he did when he was a kid has left his scars. But he was raised by his uncle who loves him deeply. And who, unfortunately for Noah, has a high profile political career. Being in the spotlight is the worst place for Noah to be but he knows his uncle does good work. Though his advisor is unkind and harsh with Noah. Which Milo catches when him and Noah run into one another. Milo rises to Noah’s defense. And with Milo’s own mom in politics, he gets it. It starts a friendship between them. And when Noah needs to get away, Milo offers Devon Falls as an escape. Working at the new community center that is being developed in Devon Falls is great for Noah. And it gives Milo and Noah a chance to get to know one another better…and explore the sparks between them. They are exactly what one another needs. They have great chemistry and the dynamic between them works so well with them. I loved getting to know them and watch them fall hard for one another. I also loved seeing our other favorite characters from this series and what they have been up to. And even more, looks like we have a new character who will be getting their book next! So happy to see this series continue and can’t wait for the next love story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Van Doren Book 8: Kairo by Crea Reitan

 

Van Doren Book 8

Every heart hides something.

He walks into my office like he has a right to be here. Unfazed and unbothered by my sharp words and thorny exterior, Malcolm challenges everything I know. Somehow, he breaks down my walls and I’m laid bare before him. 

There’s nothing more terrifying than exposing my vulnerability so when I force him out of my life to protect my heart, I realize there are some things that being a Van Doren alone can’t fix.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250436343-kairo

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Kairo’s turn! I’ve been looking forward to his story for a while. Kairo has come off as prickly and a jerk through a lot of eyes. Though in recent books, it looked like everyone was starting to realize something. That he isn’t what he appears. And he may be hiding who he is behind a very tall wall. But no one has been successful getting past his defenses. Until Malcolm. Malcolm is a survivor of a very messed up game. He owes the Van Dorens for getting him out of there and they’ve helped him give him a new purpose. So when Jalon asks Malcolm to go to Chicago and see if he can help Kairo a bit, he goes. But mostly because he is very curious about Kairo himself. He may have heard different things about Kairo, but he won’t judge until he gets there. And to his surprise and delight, Kairo feels like his. Now to prove it to him. To earn his trust and show him that Malcolm sees everything he is hiding about himself. And that Malcolm can take care of him, be there for him… if he lets him. I loved this story! It was so great to finally know more about Kairo and see the big heart he desperately hides. And Malcolm is absolutely perfect for him. This was just a great story all around!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Van Doren Book 7: Arath by Crea Reitan

 

Van Doren Book 7

Be careful what you ask for.

Elgin Bolingbrook is drunk and in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mistaken target for a gang lands Elgin in my protection. He’s cute, confused, and so ridiculously responsive to me that I quickly become addicted. 

As we close in on the gang who’s after Elgin, I realize that once we eliminate the threat, I’m going to lose the man I enjoy playing like a violin.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250436102-arath

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Elgin ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time, he never imagined where it would lead him. Arath Van Doren is in charge of Philly. Keeping it safe with his team, they track a local gang who are trying to make a name for themselves. And lucky for Elgin, Arath is at the right time to save him from being shot. But now that gang thinks they have to take out Elgin. Arath won’t let that happen. Elgin knows he should probably object a bit to being a bit of a “hostage” to Arath, but he can’t seem to find a reason to care all that much. Arath has awakened something in Elgin he has never felt before and he isn’t ready to let it go just yet. And for Arath, well he definitely addicted to Elgin and letting him go isn’t an option either. These two were pretty funny. We got a willing hostage and a protective caveman, but they were definitely cute. It’s always fun to get a Van Doren brother story! And I loved seeing this one extended after having read a sneak peek of it. You definitely don’t want to miss these two!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful and Beastly Book 1: A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

 

Beautiful and Beastly Book 1

New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher in this dark fantastical retelling, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.

Raine Stone was the sole survivor of a horrific creature while camping. Her account of the attack was attributed to shock, but Raine knows all too well that her story is true because now she carries that same Beast inside her!

She’s been restraining its violent urges by letting it 'feed' on the pain and chaos she’s exposed to as an ER nurse, and by playing vigilante against would-be muggers at night. But when Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal a frail elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack, she opens herself to a new world of danger—literally.

Remington “Remy” Byrne knows that the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very thin; he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. He also rules the supernatural creatures living in secret among us. Raine’s Beast makes her an intruder on Remy’s territory, but the elderly gentleman she saved is Remy’s grandfather, and her Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if Raine allies with him.

Will they be friends or foes…or will the dangerous attraction between them turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240019965-a-curse-of-beasts-and-magic

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A great start to this new series by Jeaniene Frost! Raine has a problem. One that started eleven years ago. There is this Beast inside of her, and no matter what she does, it won’t go away. So over the years she has done everything in her power to control it and feed it to keep it tame. The Beast craves violence, and Raine has found ways to provide it. But one night changes her future. After she helps an old man from being attacked and heals him with her powers, Remy comes to her door. Turns out, she isn’t the only magical being in the world. The world is filled with them and there are some rules and guardians. Remy is a Warden. Basically keeping balance and providing some order between magical creatures and the unknowing humans. And turns out, he knows what Raine is and he may just be able to help. So they strike a bit of a deal. But there are other grabs for power going on in the world around them and they’ll need to work together. All the while trying to figure out what is sparking between them. A really great start to this whole new urban fantasy world! I really loved getting to know Raine. She is exactly what you would expect out of a Jeaniene Frost heroine. Sassy, smart, and brave. You never knew what she would do next. A great match to challenge Remy at every turn. A great story all around and I can’t wait to see what happens with these two next!

Dark Olympus Book 10: Shattered Gods by Katee Robert

 

Dark Olympus Book 10

She was Olympus's Queen. Its sacrifice. Its savior. Its destruction.

Long ago, Circe was Hermes' entire heart. The two women lived on the outskirts of Olympian society, content with a quiet life away from the spotlight. Then Circe caught the eye of Zeus…and was forced into a marriage that would take her freedom, her future, and in the end, her life. In the wake of the tragedy, gossip swirled about the woman Zeus married and (allegedly) murdered…but in time, everyone forgot about beautiful, tragic Circe.

Everyone but Hermes, who vowed on that day to bring Olympus to its knees.

Now, fifteen years later, a new Zeus rules the city, a new Hades protects his people, a new hope dawns…and Hermes has begun to think there may be things about Olympus worth saving. With Atalanta by her side―and slowly rebuilding her heart―Hermes may finally be ready to set aside her fury and seek the city's rebirth instead of its total annihilation. But there is a beautiful devil on Hermes' other shoulder: a devil who rose, blood-soaked, from where Zeus left her for dead years ago. A devil who has waited all this time to have her revenge.

And no matter their past, no matter the desperate love they once shared, no matter the complicated triad forming between the three women, Circe will not rest until all of Olympus lays shattered at her feet…and the gods help anyone who gets in her way.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240468760-shattered-gods

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The final book of this series has arrived! And we finally get Hermes’s story. It’s been a long time coming to see what she has been up to all this time and her exact plans. And her past. Hermes’s goal has been to take down the Thirteen. To build something new. But then Circe arrives unexpectedly and it disrupts her plans over and over again. Add in the fact that Hermes thought Circe was dead. And they have quite the past. And right now, Circe is making moves to take the city. She may think she is helping but her ways only lead to death and destruction. Lost in her vengeance. She must be stopped. But that’s not easy. Then we have Atalanta. Hermes’s friend who also loves Hermes. Though they have never acted on it. Knowing that they had a bigger agenda. But the time to hold back from the one you love is no longer an option. Not even any day could you be your last. A pretty wild ride this last one. I was trying to figure out early on how Hermes, Circe, and Atalanta would end up together while also trying to figure out how this story could possibly end with those characters we have come to love remaining intact. At lot goes down in this final book, but the ending is what Olympus needed. A fun series all around. I’m sad to see it go!